Cardinals ***OFFICIAL*** 2013 STL Cardinals Thread - Page 244

**BigRedChief** · 08:16 PM

From Bernie's column:

People have asked me why we’re not more emotional,” Matheny said in his office after Sunday’s game. “They say that we look subdued, always intense. That our actions are methodical, robotic at times. That’s what got us here. This isn’t the time to change it.”

It’s hard to argue with the manager’s assessment. The Cardinals finished with 97 victories, most by a Cards team since 2005, and tied with Boston for No. 1 in the majors this year.

Their 54-27 showing at Busch Stadium matches the 1985 team for the best single-season home winning percentage (.667) by the Cardinals since 1944.

A postseason theme has emerged, and it echoes the mantra that surfaced before the start of 2013: remember the fall of 2012. Remember falling to San Francisco in the NLCS.

The Cardinals’ veterans still haven’t forgotten. They still aren’t over it. It’s why Matheny resists GM John Mozeliak’s urgings to smile and put on a happier face.

Here's the most impressive aspect of the Cardinals' division championship: they prevailed over two other outstanding teams, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.

The 97-win Cardinals were better this year (regular season) than they were in 2011, when they won 90 games, and 2012, when they won 88.
Here are a few numbers that help put the Cardinals' Central title and No. 1 NL seed in perspective:

* Since MLB switched to a three-division format in each league in 1994, this was only the sixth time that a division had three 90-plus win teams. St. Louis won 97, Pittsburgh 94, and Cincinnati 90.
* Since the format change, this was only the second time that an NL division had three 90-win teams. In 2002 the NL West had Arizona (98 wins), San Francisco (95) and Los Angeles (92).
* The 2013 Cardinals faced more esteemed and difficult competition at the top of the division than any of the division-winning teams managed by Tony La Russa.

The Pirates were hardly pushovers; the Cardinals had to work like mad and kick in with a strong finish to put the division away, and didn't clinch until Game No. 160.

The Cardinals went 9-10 against Pittsburgh this season and were 11-8 vs. Cincinnati.

The Cardinals won only three of 10 games at PNC Park in Pittsburgh and split the 10 games at Cincinnati. The Cardinals were 6-3 against both teams at Busch Stadium.

The Cardinals (1st), Pirates (3rd) and Reds (5th) ranked among the top five in wins in the NL. The three teams were among the top 11 in wins in MLB. All three teams finished in the top five in the majors for best overall ERA, and each were in the top five MLB for best starting-pitching ERA.

The original purpose to this piece was to point out that the Cardinals managed to finish with the league's best record while competing in a division that had three 90-win teams for only the second time in the last 19 years of National League baseball.

The Cardinals really earned this.
Thanks for reading ...
— Bernie

'Hamas' Jenkins · 08-04-2013, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VAChief

Hopefully, we had our bad streak for the year. We just need to keep it close, let Molina truly heal, and then let our best arms pitch down the stretch. It will be interesting to see the options we have in September with Martinez and Wacha available in the pen or as insurance for Westbrook/Kelly in the rotation. Wong and Taveras could provide some offensive spark as well.

Games like this offensively skew our run differential, but we are still far and away the leader in this category.

No way you let Jake Westbrook start a playoff game.

The rotation as it shakes out now is probably:

Waino
Lynn
Shelby
Kelly
Westbrook

Shelby could be very problematic in the playoffs as he racks up really high pitch counts, but he also has more slam the door potential than any other Cardinal starter.

I would hope that the PS pitching staff is:

SP:

Wainwright
Lynn
Miller
Martinez--rust him more as a SP than a RP right now b/c of control issues. Starters can work around walks in a way that relievers can't, and he can overpower a lineup like the Pirates

BP:

Long men:Wacha; Kelly

LOOGY:Scroate

Fireman (Double play possibility)
Maness

7th:Siegrist

8th: Rosenthal

9th: Mujica

Blowout guy: Blazek

O.city · 08-04-2013, 08:26 PM

I would transition from Westbrook and too one of the young guys

Jewish Rabbi · 08-04-2013, 08:29 PM

Why wouldn't you trust Westbrook in the playoffs? Does he have bad career numbers or something?

'Hamas' Jenkins · 08-04-2013, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

Why wouldn't you trust Westbrook in the playoffs? Does he have bad career numbers or something?

Pitchers with a worse xFIP than Westbrook this year (ML):

Barry Zito, Jeremy Guthrie, Jason Marquis, Lucas Harrell, Dylan Axelrod.

That's everyone with worse peripherals.

VAChief · 08-04-2013, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

Why wouldn't you trust Westbrook in the playoffs? Does he have bad career numbers or something?

LaRussa/Duncan made him the long man in 11 with less talented options than we have now.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 08-05-2013, 06:05 PM

Greinke just buzzed hit Craig up and in. Shit's about to get real.

**BigRedChief** · 08-05-2013, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Greinke just buzzed hit Craig up and in. Shit's about to get real.

You could tell he was pissed about the inside pitch Waino threw him.

**BigRedChief** · 08-05-2013, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VAChief

LaRussa/Duncan made him the long man in 11 with less talented options than we have now.

THIS! He doesn't deserve a playoff start.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 08-05-2013, 06:14 PM

Waino is struggling again. His control has been really poor the last three starts.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 08-05-2013, 06:17 PM

And follows it up with two straight hits. Big inning possible for the Dodgers.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 08-05-2013, 06:20 PM

He was out. That's a bullshit call.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 08-05-2013, 06:40 PM

Goddammit. Descalso, you have to put the ball in play there. Even a double play scores a damned run, and with the pitcher coming up, that's an acceptable outcome.

Matheny is a dumbass for just giving up an opportunity for Wainwright to even elevate one in the air.

And, the suddenly massive outside corner for Greinke (nonexistent in the top half) ****s Carpenter.

Awful, just awful.

O.city · 08-05-2013, 06:43 PM

Descalso ****ed that inning

'Hamas' Jenkins · 08-05-2013, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O.city

Descalso ****ed that inning

He did. Matheny's managing didn't help, and as crazy as it sounds, part of me considered pinch hitting for Waino in the 4th, because he's been mediocre at best since the break.

O.city · 08-05-2013, 06:46 PM

Waino hasn't been good for a bit

01-25-2013, 05:27 PM
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $3149627 VARSITY	*OFFICIAL* 2013 STL Cardinals Thread From Bernie's column: People have asked me why we’re not more emotional,” Matheny said in his office after Sunday’s game. “They say that we look subdued, always intense. That our actions are methodical, robotic at times. That’s what got us here. This isn’t the time to change it.” It’s hard to argue with the manager’s assessment. The Cardinals finished with 97 victories, most by a Cards team since 2005, and tied with Boston for No. 1 in the majors this year. Their 54-27 showing at Busch Stadium matches the 1985 team for the best single-season home winning percentage (.667) by the Cardinals since 1944. A postseason theme has emerged, and it echoes the mantra that surfaced before the start of 2013: remember the fall of 2012. Remember falling to San Francisco in the NLCS. The Cardinals’ veterans still haven’t forgotten. They still aren’t over it. It’s why Matheny resists GM John Mozeliak’s urgings to smile and put on a happier face. Here's the most impressive aspect of the Cardinals' division championship: they prevailed over two other outstanding teams, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. The 97-win Cardinals were better this year (regular season) than they were in 2011, when they won 90 games, and 2012, when they won 88. Here are a few numbers that help put the Cardinals' Central title and No. 1 NL seed in perspective: * Since MLB switched to a three-division format in each league in 1994, this was only the sixth time that a division had three 90-plus win teams. St. Louis won 97, Pittsburgh 94, and Cincinnati 90. * Since the format change, this was only the second time that an NL division had three 90-win teams. In 2002 the NL West had Arizona (98 wins), San Francisco (95) and Los Angeles (92). * The 2013 Cardinals faced more esteemed and difficult competition at the top of the division than any of the division-winning teams managed by Tony La Russa. The Pirates were hardly pushovers; the Cardinals had to work like mad and kick in with a strong finish to put the division away, and didn't clinch until Game No. 160. The Cardinals went 9-10 against Pittsburgh this season and were 11-8 vs. Cincinnati. The Cardinals won only three of 10 games at PNC Park in Pittsburgh and split the 10 games at Cincinnati. The Cardinals were 6-3 against both teams at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals (1st), Pirates (3rd) and Reds (5th) ranked among the top five in wins in the NL. The three teams were among the top 11 in wins in MLB. All three teams finished in the top five in the majors for best overall ERA, and each were in the top five MLB for best starting-pitching ERA. The original purpose to this piece was to point out that the Cardinals managed to finish with the league's best record while competing in a division that had three 90-win teams for only the second time in the last 19 years of National League baseball. The Cardinals really earned this. Thanks for reading ... — Bernie Last edited by BigRedChief; 10-02-2013 at 08:16 PM..
Posts: 79,012

08-04-2013, 08:26 PM	#3647
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2754064	I would transition from Westbrook and too one of the young guys
Posts: 81,244

08-04-2013, 08:29 PM	#3648
Jewish Rabbi What's up braj? Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Placencia, Belize Casino cash: $2128320	Why wouldn't you trust Westbrook in the playoffs? Does he have bad career numbers or something?
Posts: 15,554

08-05-2013, 06:05 PM	#3651
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8009572	Greinke just buzzed hit Craig up and in. Shit's about to get real. __________________ "When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln
Posts: 74,826

08-05-2013, 06:14 PM	#3654
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8009572	Waino is struggling again. His control has been really poor the last three starts. __________________ "When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln
Posts: 74,826

08-05-2013, 06:17 PM	#3655
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8009572	And follows it up with two straight hits. Big inning possible for the Dodgers. __________________ "When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln
Posts: 74,826

08-05-2013, 06:20 PM	#3656
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8009572	He was out. That's a bullshit call. __________________ "When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln
Posts: 74,826

08-05-2013, 06:40 PM	#3657
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8009572	Goddammit. Descalso, you have to put the ball in play there. Even a double play scores a damned run, and with the pitcher coming up, that's an acceptable outcome. Matheny is a dumbass for just giving up an opportunity for Wainwright to even elevate one in the air. And, the suddenly massive outside corner for Greinke (nonexistent in the top half) ****s Carpenter. Awful, just awful. __________________ "When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln
Posts: 74,826

08-05-2013, 06:43 PM	#3658
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2754064	Descalso ****ed that inning
Posts: 81,244

08-05-2013, 06:46 PM	#3660
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2754064	Waino hasn't been good for a bit
Posts: 81,244